FR3102402A1 - Method and machine for securing securities implemented during the production of secured securities - Google Patents

Abstract

This method of securing securities, for the production of secure securities, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: - successive deposits of a metal pad (6) on a roll film (1) of smart cards, to each location on a final map; and - laser engraving of an image on the metal pellet, the metal pellet comprising an engraving surface comprising a surface effect configured to provide a three-dimensional visual effect making the image to be engraved non-reproducible by two-dimensional reproduction techniques. 'abbreviated: Fig 2

Description

Method and machine for securing titles implemented during the production of secure titles

The present invention relates, in general, to the manufacture of secure documents, such as identity cards, driving licenses, residence permits, social security cards, student cards, passports, etc.

More particularly, the invention relates to securing titles, in particular biometric titles.

Biometric titles conventionally comprise a chip in which information relating to the holder is stored. This is, for example, but not exclusively, a photograph or biometric data, such as the holder's fingerprints.

Thanks to this information, the holder of the card can be identified by comparing his biometric data with those which are stored in the card.

These cards are conventionally made of polycarbonate. They are obtained by cutting a sheet in which chips are previously integrated.

After cutting, the cards are placed in the magazine of a manufacturing machine in which the cards are personalized by laser engraving of variable data specific to each holder and by encoding the chip.

During personalization, the cards are successively brought, one after the other, into personalization tools, by laser engraving of the cardholder's civil status information or of a photograph. Various forms of security providing specific visual effects such as holograms or two-dimensional double images selectively visible according to the angle of inclination can also be engraved.

After printing, the cards are encoded with digital information.

Although this manufacturing technique makes it possible to manufacture secure vouchers with a relatively high production rate, it nevertheless has a major drawback insofar as the integrity of the card stock is not guaranteed before personalization of the cards.

Indeed, it is possible that cards are fraudulently stolen before their personalization and before the coding of the chip.

In view of the foregoing, the object of the invention is to propose a method for securing a title which can be implemented in such a way as to make it possible to guarantee the integrity of the stock of cards, during their manufacture.

The subject of the invention is therefore a process for securing titles for the production of secure titles, which comprises the steps of:

- successive deposits of a metallic pellet on a film roll of smart cards, at each location of a final card; And

- laser engraving of an image on each metal pad,

the metal patch comprising an etching surface comprising a surface effect configured to provide a three-dimensional visual effect rendering the etched image non-reproducible by two-dimensional reproduction techniques.

By two-dimensional reproduction technique, we mean any type of technique making it possible to produce a two-dimensional image of a reproduced element, such as photography, printing, photocopying, etc.

Thus, the manufacturing process being implemented from a roll film, the blank cards can be kept in a roll until the personalization and security are completed, guaranteeing the integrity of the card stock before and after the security phase and the coding phase, up to the cutting of the titles.

Advantageously, the laser engraving is a laser engraving with a negative/positive effect depending on the lighting.

Furthermore, this laser engraving can be a laser engraving with magnifying effect.

In one embodiment, the etching surface comprises a succession of shapes organized in the patch to shape light beams reflected by the etched surface.

For example, the engraving surface comprises a succession of concentric grooves of revolution having a decreasing dimension in the radially external direction.

According to another feature of the process, the surfaces of the roll film are coated with a polyester or polycarbonate film after the etching step.

Advantageously, the engraved image is an image of the title holder.

This method further comprises, preferably, a step of cutting the film.

The invention also relates to a title security machine, for the production of secure titles, which comprises:

- a roll film unwinding station;

- a station for successive deposits of a metal disc on the film, at each location of a final card; And

- a station for laser engraving an image on the metal pellets, the metal pellets comprising an engraving surface comprising a surface effect configured to provide a three-dimensional visual effect making the engraved image non-reproducible by two-dimensional reproduction techniques.

According to another feature of the machine, it further comprises a station for depositing a layer of polyester or polycarbonate on the faces of the etched film and a station for cutting the film.

Other aims, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

is a schematic view of a ticket security machine according to the invention;

is a top view illustrating the treatment of the film during the main phases of the process; And

shows an example of a metallic pellet deposited on the film.

We first refer to Figure 1 which schematically illustrates a document security machine implemented during the production of secure documents.

This machine is intended to be fed from a film of smart cards in a roll and is intended to deposit, at each location of a smart card, a security, the cards thus secured being intended, at the output of the machine security, to be cut into secure cards.

The following description concerns the production of secure cards, such as identity cards, driving licenses, etc. Of course, it also applies to the production of any other type of secure card.

The film 1 feeding the security machine, which comes in a roll, comprises for example a back layer, for example in polycarbonate or polyester, a front layer, also in polycarbonate or polyester, and an intermediate layer comprising for example labels each incorporating a chip, which are successively deposited on the back layer before the latter is covered with the front layer.

The back and front layers each constitute, for example, a preprinted film with generic information, identical for all the cards. This is basic security information or security background, for example elements of certification or prevention of falsification. These are also fields to be personalized during the card manufacturing stage, for example the surname, first name, marital status of the cardholder.

As regards the intermediate layer, this comprises, in addition to the chip, its antenna.

The outer faces of the film can each be coated with a layer of positive photographic transfer making it possible, during the manufacture of smart cards and, in particular, during the personalization of the cards, to fill the variable fields of the card by transfer of information from photosensitized negatives onto these photographic transfer layers.

When securing the title implemented by the security machine visible in Figure 1, the film first undergoes a step of depositing a metal pellet at each location of a final card, followed by a step of laser engraving.

This engraving step is followed by a photographic transfer step to, in particular, deposit an image of the cardholder and fill in the variable fields.

The film is then coated with two layers of polyester or polycarbonate which are deposited on the front and back of the film. Then the cards are cut out.

Of course, before the cutting step, the chips that are present on the labels are programmed by coding digital information.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the machine comprises a first station 2 for unrolling the chip card film and a station 3 for depositing a metallic pellet at each location of a final card, in a field specifically provided for this effect.

This deposition station 3 comprises a pneumatic element 4 acting on a punch 5 in order to deposit, by pressing, a patch 6 on each field 7 for securing the card (FIG. 2).

The metal pellet is a pellet which is manufactured elsewhere which comprises an etching surface, intended to be turned away from the film 1 after punching, which comprises a surface effect capable of providing a three-dimensional visual effect. For example, metal pellets are transferred from a film F to the securing field under the effect of punch 5.

Of course, the punch 5 will be configured in such a way as to avoid altering this engraving surface.

In various embodiments, the surface imparting the specific visual effect may only partially cover the engraving surface or, on the contrary, cover the entire engraving surface.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the etching surface S can comprise a series of similar or identical shapes, arranged according to a law of homogeneous distribution.

These shapes can be constituted by streaks, convex or concave surfaces or any other shape capable of shaping the light rays reflected on the metal disc. These are, for example, reliefs or recessed parts organized so as to create patterns which have a dimension which varies according to said law of distribution.

In one embodiment, the shapes are constituted by concentric grooves of revolution C and C' having regularly decreasing widths in the radially external direction so as to form concentric reflecting annular surfaces of decreasing width towards the outside, according to a similar arrangement to a Fresnel lens.

This surface also adopts a generally convex shape, with convexity facing away from film 1.

Thus, this engraving surface makes it possible to obtain a magnifying effect.

In addition, due to the engraving on the metallized surface, the engraving makes it possible to obtain a negative/positive effect which varies according to the lighting.

One can for example obtain a dark surface or a light surface depending on the level of lighting.

In these various embodiments, the engraving surface comprises surface effects which make it possible to shape the beams of reflected light in order to provide three-dimensional effects to the engraved image.

These three-dimensional effects cannot be reproduced by two-dimensional reproduction techniques.

At the output of the deposition station 3, the machine comprises an engraving station 8 comprising a laser 9 and a deflector 10 in order to direct a laser beam 11 towards the chip card film provided with the metal pellets.

For example, the etching step may consist in etching on the etching surface of each metal pad the image of the future holder of the smart card.

This image is thus engraved with a magnifying effect and a negative/positive effect.

It is also possible to burn a double image, each image being visible depending on the inclination of the card.

Of course, when the surface conferring the visual effect only partially covers the engraving surface, in this case, the visual effect is partial, the entire engraving surface being subjected to the laser treatment.

During the personalization step, in addition to securing, an image I of the cardholder is also deposited, using a photosensitized negative on the photographic transfer layer provided on the card.

Downstream, the security machine comprises a station 12 for depositing, on the mutually opposite sides of the film 1, a film 13 of polycarbonate or polyester ensuring the protection and inviolability of the information engraved on the film.

As can be seen, the installation is completed by a set of sensors, such as 14, which ensure the timing of the various stations after detection of indexing marks 15 made on the film.

Claims (9)

Method for securing titles, for producing secure titles, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:
- successive deposits of a metal pellet (6) on a film (1) in roll of smart cards, at each location of a final card; And
- laser engraving of an image on the metal disc,
the metal pad comprising an engraving surface (S) comprising a surface effect configured to provide a three-dimensional visual effect rendering the image to be engraved not reproducible by two-dimensional reproduction techniques. Method according to claim 1, in which the laser engraving is a laser engraving with negative/positive effect depending on the illumination. Method according to one of Claims 1 and 2, in which the laser engraving is a laser engraving with a magnifying effect. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the etching surface comprises a succession of shapes organized in the patch to shape the light beams reflected by the etched surface. Process according to Claim 4, in which the engraving surface comprises a succession of grooves of concentric revolution (C, C') having a decreasing dimension in the radially external direction. A method according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the surfaces of the roll film are coated with a polyester or polycarbonate film (13) after the etching step. A method according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the image is an image of the cardholder. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a step of cutting the film. Title security machine, for producing secure titles, characterized in that it comprises:
- a station (2) for unwinding a roll film;
- a station (3) for successive deposits of a metallic pellet (6) on the film, at each location of a final card, the metallic pellet comprising an etching surface (S) comprising a surface effect configured to provide a three-dimensional visual effect rendering the image to be engraved not reproducible by two-dimensional reproduction techniques; And
- A station (8) for laser engraving an image on the deposited metal pellets.
10. Machine according to claim 9, further comprising a station 12) for depositing on the faces of the etched film a layer (13) of polyester or polycarbonate and a station for cutting the film.